Induction heating of rotatable blade assemblies and the like



Sept. 14, 1948. w. c, RUDD ETAL 2,449,325

INDUCTION HEATING 0F ROTATABLE BLADE ASSEMBLIES AND THE LIKE Filed June 20, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arme/vers 5 \1 9 M, 2 E D A L B mm .LMI ATL mu OH RT DFD Do m. UGS RNW.. .T cum wam N s .m A T w D N I ,oa 4 9 1|. 4 1|. .L w

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1945 Sept. 14, 1948. A w. c. RUDD Erm. 2 449,325

v INDUCTION HEATING 0F ROTATABLE BLADE AssEMBLIEs AND THE LIKE f Filed June 20,1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 14, 1948 iNnUo'rIoN HEATING 0F noTATABLE BLADE ASSEMBLIES AND THE LIKE Wallace C. Ruddiarohmont, and Robert J. Stan.-

ton, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Induction Heating Corporation,E New Yorin N. Y., a corporation of New, York Application June 20, 1945, Serial No. 600,544

(Cl. E19-.13)

i Claims. 1 rIhis invention relates to'induction heating apparatus and to an inductor for applying a high frequency electromagnetic field to selected surfaces of an object to thereby inductively heat such surfaces.

For the efficient use of induction heating apparatus in manufacturing operations, it is. oftentimes desirable to concurrently heat several. surfaces of an object, which surfaces may be of spiral, helical or other irregular shape. Many of the problems in induction heating aresuch as to require an accurately'predetermined and uniform amount of heating of all of'such surfaces. In the heat treatment of lawn mower bladesfor example, it is desirable from-the standpoints of Leconomy and uniformity that all the blades of a lawn mower blade assembly be concurrently and evenly heated to a suitable tempering or hardeningtemperature. This maybe-conveniently andeicaciously accomplished according to the present invention, by providing a stationaryinductor construct-ed and arranged toesta'olish a plurality of localized electror-nagnetie fields or' heating zones in response to passageof high frequency current therethrough, ythe work piece being moved through or adjacent the inductor rin such fashion that the surfaces to beheated traverse the respective heating AZones.

Each surfaeegas it traverses a heating zone, is in closely spaced inductive relationship with respect to an inductor element extending alongone side thereof andy then reversing and extending back along the 'other side. The reversing porltions are, ofcourse, constructed so as not to interfere with the movement ofthe object past or through the inductor-` vject zthroughlor adjacent the stationary inductor .tothereby direct the helical surfaces through the. respective Aheatingzones. A second guide may he yprovided to engagesaid helical surfaces 4after they. have .moved through the respective heatingzones andbeyondtheirstguide whereby f the surfaces lof the object yare ,maintainedet all 2 times within their respective heating zones. 1f desired, the heated surfaces may be chilled after they have passed through the respective heating zones by passingV saidv heated surfaces into a reservoir of oil or other quenching medium.

Various other objects, featuresv and advantages of the invention will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and illustrating, by way of example, preferred forms ofy apparatus which may Vbe used in carrying out the invention. The invention resides in such novel features, arrangements, and combinations of parts as may be shown and described in connec tion with the apparatus herein disclosed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View, partially in elevation, showing the novel inductionheating apparatus of the invention with a lawn mower blade assembly mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View, partially in section, of the inductor shown in Fig. 1 with the lawn mower blades in position to be heated thereby;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the guide and support forthe'inductor shown in Fig. l;

Fig, 4. .is an enlarged front elevational View of one of the inductor elements with a lawn mower blade in position to be heated thereby;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational View of the inductor element shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line ETS 'of Fig. 3;

Figs. 7 and 8 are, respectively, enlarged iront elevational and inverted plan lviews of a modied form of an inductor for use with the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary -View of a supporting portion of the inductor shown in Figs. 7 and 8 with the parts in disassembled relation;

Figs. 11 and 12are, respectively, sectional views taken substantially along ,the lines ii--ll and l2-l2 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 13 is a sectional View ofv an inductor element taken substantially along the line ,I3- i3 of Fig. 7 with a lawn mower blade in position to be `heated thereby.

Referring to the drawings in detail andparticularly to Fig. 1, the supporting structure and housing for the apparatus may comprise a base -20 upon which a sidewall 2l `is mounted. Side- Wall 2l may support oneside of a table y22, the

other side of which may be secured to an upwardly-extending wall 23 mounted on a horizontal support 24 which may be rigidly secured to the base 28 in any suitable manner, not shown.

A cylindrical container or reservoir 25 may be mounted upon base 2li with the top portion 28 thereof disposed beneath the table 22. The top portion of container 25 may have a flanged opening as at 21, the flange extending upwardly through a suitable opening provided in the table 22. A cap 28, preferably formed from insulating material, is mounted over the flanged opening 21, the interior of cap 28 defining a circular passage 29 of sufficient size to accommodate the object to be heated together with the inductor elements to be hereinafter described. Container 25 may also be provided with a suitable inlet as at 38 and a suitable outlet as at 3 I.

A spider 32 may be disposed interiorly of con-- tainer 25, a rod 33 extending vertically through a suitable bearing 34 in spider 32. The lower portion of rod 33 may extend through a stuifing box 35 at the bottom of container 25 and into a suitable recess 38 provided in the base 2G. The lower portion of rod 33 carries a rack 31 in mesh with a gear 38 upon a shaft 35. Shaft 39 passes out of container 25 through a suitable stuffing box, not shown, and has a gear 48 mounted thereon outside container 25, gear 48 meshing with a pinion 4| which is suitably driven, for example, as by a motor 42.

The upper portion of rod 33 has a fixture 43 of insulating material secured thereto as by a set screw 44. A recessed upper portion 45 of fixture 43 is adapted to support an object to be heated, In the example shown, the object to be heated is a lawn mower blade assembly the central shaft 41 of which is supported upon a pivot within the recess 45. The upper portion of the central shaft 41 engages a pivot within a recess 48 in a fixture 49 formed from insulating material and secured on a shaft 58 by a set screw Shaft 58 is supported and held in vertical alignment with shaft 33 by a bracket 52 mounted on horizontal support 24 and provided with a suitable bearing 53. A second bracket, not shown, may be provided to support the upper part of shaft 58 in a suitable bearing, not shown. If desired, shaft 58 may be urged downwardly by springs as at 5G which are attached at their upper ends to a member 51 rigidly secured to shaft 5U. The lower ends of these springs may be connected to any suitable frame part, not shown. The lawn mower blade assembly 48 together with shafts 33 and 52 are movable vertically as a unit in response to operation of the motor 42 while the lawn mower blade assembly 46 is freely rotatable with respect to shafts 33 and 5|) upon the pivots in the respective fixtures 43 and 49.

A base 59, which may be supported in any suitable manner, carries a high frequency transformer 60 having secondary terminals 6| to which an inductor I is attached by lugs 62, Figs. l and 2. The inductor I comprises closely spaced copper bars or conductors, generally indicated at 63 and 84, which are attached, respectively, to the lugs 62. Conductor B3 comprises a straight portion as at 55 together with a substantially circular portion 86 extending around from the straight portion 85 to a position adjacent conductor 64, at which position an inner segmental portion 61 is secured to or made integral with the circular portion 66. The end surfaces of circular conductor portion 65 and segmental 4 conductor portion 61 are closely spaced with respect to conductor 64 to thereby define a narrow gap 68. v

Conductor 64 comprises a straight portion as at 18 parallel to and extending somewhat beyond the end of the straight conductor portion 65. Conductor 84 also comprises an arcuate segmental portion or conductor segment 1| disposed inwardly of the circular conductor portion 68, conductor segment 1| being closely spaced and concentric with respect to circular conductor portion 68. A plurality of arcuate conductor segments 12 are disposed in end to end relation within the circular portion 66. The conductor segment 12 adjacent conductor segment 1| is separated therefrom as by an air gap 13. In similar fashion, air gaps as at 14 separate the facing end surfaces or adjacent conductor segments 12. The conductor segment 12 adjacent the segmental conductor portion 61 is separated therefrom as by an air gap 15.

The circular conductor portion 66 and the conductor segments 1| and 12 may be tapped as at 16 to receive screws 11, Fig. 6, which extend through a substantially annular insulating member 18. The circular conductor portion 6E and conductor segments 1|, 12 may be suitably spaced from insulating member 18 as by washers 19. Thus, it will be apparent that the circular conductor portion 55 and conductor segments 1| and 12 are disposed in substantially the same plane and form a rigid unitary structure with the insulating member 18. If desired, a strip of mica or other insulating material, as indicated at 88, Fig. 6, may be placed between the circular conductor portion 66 and the conductor segments 1|, 12 to accurately maintain the desired close spacing thereof.

An inductor element, generally indicated at 8|, Fig. 4, is connected between conductor segment 1| and the adjacent conductor segment 12 at the air gap 13. Inductor element 8| may comprise a copper bar or other conducting member 82 which may be brazed or otherwise suitably secured to the inner surface of conductor segment 1| as at 83 so as to extend angularly from the conductor segment 1|. The angle of inclination of conductor member 82 with respect to the vertical is substantially identical with the angle of inclination of the lawn mower blade B with respect to the central shaft 41, Fig. 1. A return conductor member 84, Fig. 4, is brazed or otherwise suitably secured to the inner surface of conductor segment 12 so as to extend downwardly therefrom in parallel relation with conductor member 82, the spacing between conductor member 82 and conductor member 84 being sufficient to allow the lawn mower blade B to pass therebetween. The lower portions of conductor member 84 and conductor member 82 are connected by a conducting member 85 which is positioned so as not to interfere with the movement of the blade B longitudinally of the inductor element 8|.

An inductor element 8| is connected between adjacent conductor segments 12, Fig. 2, at each of the air gaps 14 and there is an inductor element 8| connected between the segmental conductor portion 81 and the adjacent conductor segment 12 at the air gap 15. Consequently, current supplied by the secondary terminals of the transformer may pass through one of the lugs 62, straight conductor portion 65, circular conductor portion 66, segmental portion 61 and thence through the conductor member 84, conductor and conductor member 82 into the ad- :ciaooo-t conductor segmenti l2.' 'TI-She 1.current may then-pass throughv the respectivey sets of'inductor elements 8| and-conductor segmenten in series vand rfinally through conductorsegment "ll fand straight conductor portion 'l0 to the otherlugL'IZ. In order-to prevent overheating of the apparatus during the .operation thereof, suitable ycooling means may be provided for theinfductor I. f 'Such cooling means may comprise 4an inlet pipe 4Si I', Fig.

said conductor segment 'H and then'through the -,1straightAconductorportion16 to a suitableoutlet masiatvygz. ...Accordingly/, la continuousstream of cooling .fluid may be passed through the various conductor and -in-ductor elements.

According to theinvention, a suitable guide G,

' Figs. l :andr is provided for directing thesurfaces cto.; be :heated rthrough :the respective inductor ele- :mentsL The guide G may comprise uppergand Vlower;sectionsv 9'! supported in any suitablemanner; for example, by the table 22 and the top .por-

tion'25gyof container 25, respectively. Suitable plates Svare secured, respectively, to the upper rvand lower sections Sl', the plates 98, having lany suitable number -of notches or .slots'gll therein in which the blades B are guided. In the example shown, three slots or notches'99 are-provided for guidingthree of the blades B, respectively., The slots 99 in the respective upper land lower :plates E38 are angularly offset withrespect tothe in- ,ductor .elementsl 48l in accordance with the unifformiangleof inclination or pito-hof the lawn Lmower blades Consequently, when theblades ,are inthe respective slots 99 ofL eitherthe upper lor-lower'section 91, the blade surfaces adjacent -the induoto-r I'are disposed between the V conductor ymembers 32, Sil 4of the respective ,inductorfelements 8 l.

The operation is as follows: y The .shaft .33 is elevated by oper-atingthe motor .42 until the .fixture 4'3 is approximately at the same level-as the insulating member y'13; Fig. l.

The lawn mower blade assembly -45 or other Aobjeot to be heated is placed upon .therxture 43 withthe .lower end of the shaft 41 extending into andsengaging the pivot in therrecess 115. blade rassembly 45 ,is rotated, if necessary, so Vthat three of the blades Bare disposed in the respectiveslots Q!lin the upper guideplate 98. Thereupon, the shaft-.50 is lowered into position so .that 4the pivot in .the recessengages theupper tend .ofthe .shaft M. The springs 56,56 lurgethe shaft VH1, downwardly so that the `blade assemblyl is securelyheld between thev ixtures t153,49 withthe s'haftll'in verticalalignment with the shafts-33, l lh.

The

High .frequency current is then .passed through theinductor I by the :previously-described ciracuit, -thiscurrent inducing an intense: localized eleotromagneticfiield in the regions .or heating zoneswthin-the .inductor elements 3l.

, .It lwill .be no tedthat the, conductor portion-6,

in conjunction the esegments 12,- comprise,

in effect, adouble loopfiormationfextendingfrom oneiof thewterminals aroundfrto vapointoffreversal at68 and' thenextendin'gfback around in closely spacedrelation tothe same formation, .as another loop returning to the vother terminal,

' the gaps as at'Tll-beingprovidedat `spaced points around one of the loops andthe depending in- `terminals therefor, only a vsmall amount` effinductor portions as at 8! being connected respectively `to bridge ysuch gaps. Inview of` the close spacingoflthese two loop formationsand the ducten-ce yoccurs therebetween, and accordingly substantial amounts of high frequency` power may bereadily-suppliedfateachof the-gaps 'where the inductors 8l are conneotedand also because 'of such lconductor arrangement, approximately the same amount of high frequency currentmay lbe madeto flow through each ofthe depending ind-actors' al. 'This double 'loop conductor and supporting yarrangement for the indfuctor portionsl also hasanother important advantage.

That is, if there were but yatsingle loop formation made up of the segments 12, for example, `there would be a high frequency' eld main-tained throughout a substantial portion ofv the'area enclosed thereby, and `such a field fwould,=fo=f course, cause considerable undesiredfheating 'of the supporting frame structure `or spider mem-bers` of the work-assembly, as well :as-lifts-fcentrallshaft, Thus, ar considerable part, atleastgof the `r`whole assembly would be vhardened uponA quenching Lfollowing the heating, whereas ordinarily it will-be ldesired lto .only harden the 'bladel edge portions.

` 'In the structure as' shown, for example, in Fig; 2,

however, vthe pro-vision of the outer returny l loop ztzcauses suchfrnagnetic iiuxas occu-rsalongzthe segments l2 to be largely concentrated .between the segmentsand' theretur-nioopfa-soi that there will be substantially no high .freoluenoyceld in the `lcentral areas where lthewworkassembly is to pass, except for the "relatively intense-'localized "holds within 4the channel-like paths formed. by

the inductor 'portions 3l and through which-the blade iedgeszare 4to pass.

LWhenever cur-rent is iowingthrough the infduc'tor, :water: or other cooling liuid iis-passed from the inlet S'I', Fig. 2, through the' describedzpas- `sage 92E-,and then to the outlet-93 'whereby lover- .heating fof the induotor is prevented.

The: motor 52 isfthen operated :to niovefthe shaft 35 downwardly, 'Fig'. l. As ,the blade fas- .sembly its movesk downwardly, it irotatesf'u'pon the pivots in theffrespective `fixtures rand 49 `response to the guiding action fonwthe "blades `Baby the upper. l.plate 39B. The blades a1e'-=thus guided through l.the respective; heating:'tones v'established bythe inductor elementsil fand v:thence into the lfoulenching'fluid contained in reservoir i215. Accordingly, each portion Aofrthe I blade `is heated .to-the :desired'ztempering orh'ardlening tempera-ture. during its passage through ztheheating zone Yand then quenched. 1 Asvertical motion-,of thexlawnnmower bl'adeasserrrbly :toward thedotted lineposition ofV Fig. E11 continues,

nthe I upper portions ox'the blades-Spass through ,and ibelow` the Islotsjgg inthe .upper guide -plate 88.; 4Priorfto this time, some fof the blades B have passed pinto :the ,respective :slots `$3.9 inthe vlower f guide pla-teilt wit-hrthe .result that upper/ portor ; K tively i guided ythroughy the respective heating tions V of 4the blades B :are raccurately and posiwzones. Accordingly,r the blade surfaces :adjacent i the inductor =I are :at-.all timesfguidedwthrough ,the yrespective':heating :zones byueither: the .f-upper 'After the blade assembly has reached the dotted line position of Fig. 1, the current flowing through the inductor I is cut off. Thereupon the motor 42 is reversed and the shaft 33 elevated until the fixture 43 is approximately at the level of the insulating member 18. The upper shaft 50 may then be raised and the blade assembly 46 removed.

In this manner, all the blades B are rapidly and concurrently heating to a suitable tempering or hardening temperature and then immediately quenched by entering the cooling fluid within the container 25. It will be further appreciated that the heating effect is substantially localized and coniined to the blades B due to the novel construction of the inductor I. Accordingly, no energy is wasted in heating the shaft 41 or the blade supporting spider portions of the assembly 46. Heating of such portions of the lawn mower blade assembly would, as above indicated, cause undesirable hardening, which could not be avoided, for example, if the entire blade assembly were inserted into a furnace for heat treatment or into the types of induction heating coils heretofore used.

In Figs. 7 to 13, inclusive, we have shown an alternative form of inductor which may comprise a copper bar or conductor |00, Fig. 7, extending from an attaching lug 62. Conductor may comprise a straight portion |0| and a substantially continuous circular portion |02, Fig. 10, the return end of which is separated from the straight portion |0| as by an air gap |03, Fig. l1. Conductor |00 further comprises a downwardlyextending portion |04 which may be brazed or otherwise suitably secured to the circular portion |02 as at |05, Fig. 11.

A plurality of arcuate conductor segments |01, Figs. 7 and 9, are disposed in end to end relation beneath the circular conductor portion |02 and form a circular structure having substantially the same diameter as said circular conductor portion |02. One of the conductor segments |01 is disposed close to the downwardly-extending conductor portion |04 and is separated therefrom by an air gap |08 as is best shown in the inverted plan view, Fig. 8. The conductor segment |01 last named and the adjacent conductor segment |01 are separated by an air gap |09 and the same holds true with respect to each of the other sets of adjacent conductor segments |01. In the form of the invention shown although not necessarily, there are four of the conductor segments |01 and, in a counter-clockwise direction,

Fig. 8, from the conductor portion |04, the last conductor segment |01 of the series is separated by an air gap ||0 from an arcuate conductor segment which is integral with a conductor block ||2, the conductor segment being separated from the conductor portion |04 by an air gap |03', Figs. 8 and 11. A substantially straight copper bar or conductor portion ||4 is attached to the block ||2 as at H5, Fig. 10, and the conductor portion 4 extends in generally parallel spaced relation to the aforesaid conductor portion |0| and is connected to one of the lugs 62.

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a plurality of insulating brackets |8 are suitably secured as by screws ||1 to the circular conductor portion |02 on the one hand and the hereinbefore described conductor segments |01, on the other hand. As a result, the described parts are held in assembled relation in such manner that the conductor segments are spaced from the conductor portion |02 by an air gap having such small width that the inductive effect there is small when the inductor is energized as hereinafter described. In connection with the foregoing, it will be noted that the bracket IIS which is secured to the conductor segment maintains the hereinbefore described integral block ||2 thereof in proper spaced relation with respect to the conductor portions |0| and |04.

An inductor structure 8, Figs. 8 and 13, is connected between downwardly-extending conductor portion |04 and the adjacent conductor segment |01 at and across the air gap |08. The inductor structure ||8 is formed preferably from a single piece of copper tubing coated with insulating enamel if desired, and connected at its respective ends to the conductor portion |04 and the conductor segment |01. The copper tubing is shaped to from a suitable number, for example, three progressively smaller inductor elements or turns, each of which comprises a pair of parallel conductor members ||9 properly connected at their ends to form a continuous path for electrical current.

An inductor structure such as at ||8 is connected to adjacent conductor segments |01 at each of the air gaps |09. In similar fashion, an inductor structure ||8 is connected between the conductor segment and the adjacent conductor segment |01 at the air gap ||0. It will be apparent, upon inspection of Fig. 13, that the conductor members 9 of each inductor structure ||8 define a heating zone U of substantially U-shaped cross section, and extending longitudinally of the path of the blade B. Moreover, the heating zone U has the same angle of inclination with respect to the vertical as the lawn mower blades B, the construction of the inductor structures ||8 allowing the respective lawn mower blades B to pass longitudinally through the heating zone U without contacting any part of the inductor structures |8.

Cooling means may be provided for the inductor comprising an inlet pipe |3| connected to a passage |32, Fig. 10, which extends through the straight conductor portion |0|, circular conductor portion |02, downwardly-extending conductor portion |04, and thence through the adjacent inductor structure ||8 to the adjacent conductor segment |01. The passage |32 then extends through the respective sets of inductor structures ||8 and conductor segments |01 to conductor segment From conductor segment the passage |32 extends through conductor block ||2 and straight conductor portion I I4 to an outlet |33.

It will be understood that the lugs 62, 62 are adapted to be mounted on the secondary terminals 0| of transformer 60, Fig. 1. When so mounted, high frequency current from the transformer 60 may be passed through one of the lugs 62, straight conductor portion |01, circular conductor portion |02, downwardly-extending conductor portion |04, through the adjacent inductor structure ||8 to the adjacent conductor segment |01. The current, then, passes through the respective sets of inductor structures ||8 and conductor segments |01, through conductor segment |l|, conductor plate |I2, and conductor 4 to the other lug 62. This current induces an intense localized high frequency field in the heating zones U established by the respective inductor structures I|8 whereas there is very little inductance between the remaining circuit portions because of their very close spacing fi om return circuit portions. The intense electromagnetic field induced in the heating zones U readily heats surfaces of an object passing therethrough, for example, to a desired tempering or hardening temperature. It will be understood that this alternative form of inductor may be substituted for the inductor I, Fig. 1, the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 being operated in the manner hereinbefore described to impart the desired temper or hardness to the lawn mower blades or other surfaces to be heated.

While Vthe invention has been described with respect to present pref-erred embodiments which have given satisfactory results, and certain modifications have been referred to, Iit will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various other .changes and modifications may be made without departing from the .spirit yand scope of the invention and it is intended, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired t be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. Induction heating apparatus for heating work having .the gen-eral form of helical blades as mounted on a .rotor assembly, said apparatus comprlsing a conductor having the respective end portions thereof adapted for connection to two closely spaced terminals of a source of high frequency current, said conductor being -constructed and arranged to form a loop portion extending from one terminal around in a loop formation back to a point near such .terminal .and there joining another loop portion which is closely spaced with respect to said first-named loop ,por-tion and extends back around in a like loop formation to the other terminal, a plurality of gaps being formed at spaced points along said con-ductor, and an elongated loop-like inductor portion physically connected to bridge each such gap and extending angularly with respect to the general plane of said conductor loops, a support and guide means for such rotor-blade assemblies and the like, and means to advance said support axially of the assemblies while the latter are gradually rotated -by said guide means to an exltent corresponding to the pitch of the helical blade formation, each elongated loop-like inductor including .portions shaped and positioned to form a :channel-like path containing a localized high frequency field through which ythe blade formation passes while being thus advanced.

2. Induction heating apparatus comprising a conductor having its ends adapted for connection to the terminals of a source of high frequency current, said conductor being constructed and -arranged to extend from one terminal around in a loop formation and 4then reversing and extending back around in closely spaced relation to the same formation to the other terminal, said .conductor having a plurality of gaps respectively at points spa-ced around such formation, and a loop-like inductor portion physically connected to bridge each such gap and extending .transversely with respect to the general plane of such conductor loops, a support for the work to be heated and means for advancing said support in a direction generally axially of said :conductor loops, each of said inductors including spaced opposed conductor portions extending generally along the path of travel of an element of the work and connect-ed to maintain a localized high frequency field therealong for heating a strip .along the work while the work is being thus advanced.

3. Induction heating apparatus for heating the bla-de portions of lawn mower blade assemblies and the like, comprising a conductor having its ends adapted for connection to the terminals of a source of high frequency current, said conductor being constructed and arranged to extend from one Iterminal around in a loop formation and then reversing and extending back around in closely spaced rela-tion Ito the same formation lto the other terminal, said conductor having a plurality of gaps respectively at points spaced -around such formation, and a loop-like inductor portion physlically connected to bridge each such gap and extending transversely with respect to :the general plane of said conductor loops, a support for the bla-de assembly or the like and means for advancing said support .in la direction generally axially of said conductor loops, while gradually rotating the assembly, each of said indu'ctors including spaced opposed conductor portions extending along the path of travel of a blade .and connected to maintain a localized high frequency iield therealong for heating each blade while beingthus advanced.

4. Induction heating apparatus for heating a series of Work portions at positions spaced around .a central area where substantial heating is to be avoided, said apparatus comprising .a succession of rigid conductor pieces each extend-ing from a point adjacent one of said positions .to -a point adjacent the next position, there being provided at each of said points respectively narrow gaps between the ends of said pieces, lengths of metal tubing connected respectively to bridge each of said gaps and to form an inductive turn or turns at each of the work posi-tions and supported adjacent each gap, other rigid conductor portions extending in generally parallel spaced position along said rigid conductor pieces, said portions and pieces being physically connected to provide a current path from one terminal of .a source of high frequency to extend in series through said succession of .pieces and the intervening tube lengths and back in a reverse path through said portions :to the other terminal of the source of high frequency current, the outgoing and reverse paths being -closely spaced ,to avoid substantial inductance therebetween, whereby substantially the same `amount of high frequency current flows through each tube length, .and said conductor portions and pieces each having a cavity formed along within the same and 4communicating with the cavities within said tube lengths .to proivde a similar series path for the flo-w of cooling fluid from one terminal back to the oth-er.

WALLACE C. RUDD. ROBERT J. STANTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

